Counselor Top 40 distributor BAMKO (asi/131431) and SwagCycle teamed up to bring a little warmth and comfort to babies in need.

Through SwagCycle, a platform for sustainably managing branded merchandise over its life span, BAMKO donated 2,400 upcycled baby blankets to Baby2Baby, a national nonprofit that has distributed over 450 million essential items to children living in poverty across the United States over the last 13 years.

Jake Himelstein, BAMKO (asi/131431), and Ben Grossman, SwagCycle

“BAMKO is proud to partner with SwagCycle in our shared commitment to reducing waste and promoting sustainable practices within the promotional products industry,” said Jake Himelstein, president of BAMKO and a member of Counselor’s Power 50 list of promo’s most influential people. “This collaboration allows us to actively disrupt the throwaway culture and ensure that valuable resources are repurposed for the benefit of those in need.”

The blankets had been designed for a hospital network, but there was excess inventory. The hospital contacted BAMKO, keen for a solution to upcycle the blankets. BAMKO has a partnership with SwagCycle and turned to the organization for help. SwagCycle then made the connection to Baby2Baby, one of its partners.

“Our extensive network of partners enables us to breathe new life into products, ensuring they continue to have a positive impact long after their initial purpose,” said SwagCycle Founder Ben Grossman, Counselor’s 2022 Bess Cohn Humanitarian of the Year – an award he was given largely due to his SwagCycle initiative.

Founded in 2019, SwagCycle works with businesses and organizations to help them manage excess inventory, reduce waste and donate unwanted items to charity. To date, SwagCycle has facilitated nearly $4 million in charitable donations.

Based on reported 2022 North American promotional products revenue of $387.9 million, BAMKO ranked eighth on Counselor’s list of the largest distributors in the industry.

Promo for the Planet is your destination for the latest news, biggest trends and best ideas to help build a more sustainable and socially-responsible industry.